The Hot Stove is in full swing with Day 3 of the Winter Meetings. The Reyes deal has been finalized with the Marlins, and as of posting, we still don't know if Albert Pujols is headed to the Marlins or the Cardinals.

Seth and Maury talk about the change in the market, where Maury ponders how the risk to long-term contracts now seems commonplace.

It didn’t have the excitement of Game 6, but given its do-or-die factor, Game 7 of the 2011 World Series wound up being a ratings hit.

Based on the fast overnight numbers, FOX saw a 16.2 national television ratings number for Game 7, which saw the Cardinals beat the Rangers 6-2, and with it the club’s 11 World Series Championship. In the home markets for the two teams involves, ratings were, understandably, exceptionally high. In St. Louis the overnight ratings number was 52.7 while the Dallas/Ft. Worth market pulled a 40.3 overnight rating.

The 16.2 rating was the highest fast overnight television rating number for a World Series game since the Red Sox broke their 86 year futility mark in 2004, pulling in a 19.7 overnight rating. That series went just four games with the Red Sox sweeping the Cardinals.

It will go down as one of – if not the – best Game 6s in World Series history, right there with the ’91 game between the Braves and Twins. Last night’s extra innings thriller that saw the Cardinals best the Rangers 10-9 on a walkoff homerun by David Freese in the 11thinning, pulled in television viewers to the game on FOX pulling a 13.8 national fast overnight rating. The game pulled an incredible 49.4 rating in St. Louis and 47.1 rating in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market. How does that compare? For context, the fast overnight number for the last Game 6 in 2009 between the Phillies and Yankees was a 15.5. But, remember, the combined market size of New York and Philadelphia is almost 3 times as large at St. Louis and DFW with over 6 million more available viewers.

Bottom line, FOX and MLB are ecstatic with the numbers, as are those that sat up late to watch it.

Oh, and what were the final numbers for that last Game 7 in 2002 between the Angels and Giants? Try 17.9/29 with 30.8 million viewers.

Last night’s Game 4 of the World Series drew a 9.2/14 television rating, with 15.2 million viewers, according to FOX Sports, an increase of 2% from last year’s Game 4 between the Giants and Rangers that saw a 9.0/15 share. There had not been a Game 4 of the World Series that had gone up against Sunday Night Football until last night.

For Major League Baseball and FOX, they lucked out as the Saints demolished the Colts 62-7 in the Sunday night game on NBC. Because of the blowout, early fast overnight numbers show NBC pulled 8.2 rating.

Whether MLB lucked out, or not, while it was not the lowest rated ever, it was close. Last year’s Game 4 still holds that position in the history books.

How does last night’s Game 4 rate? Here’s how it compares to the rest of the 2011 Fall Classic:

The following is the national broadcast schedule for the 107th World Series. FOX Sports will provide national coverage of the World Series, featuring the American League Champion Texas Rangers and the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN Radio will provide complete coverage of all World Series games, and additional live coverage will provided by XM Radio, MLB International and MLB.com.

Date

Game

Site

Network

Air Time/First Pitch(ET)

Wed., Oct. 19th

Game 1

Busch Stadium

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 20th

Game 2

Busch Stadium

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 21st

Off Day

Sat., Oct. 22nd

Game 3

Rangers Ballpark In Arlington

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

Sun. Oct. 23rd

Game 4

Rangers Ballpark In Arlington

FOX

7:45/8:05 p.m.

Mon., Oct. 24th

Game 5*

Rangers Ballpark In Arlington

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

Tues., Oct. 25th

Off Day

Wed., Oct. 26th

Game 6*

Busch Stadium

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

Thurs., Oct. 27th

Game 7*

Busch Stadium

FOX

7:30/8:05 p.m.

*indicates if necessary.

Please note that the schedule above is tentative and subject to change based on postponed and/or suspended games.

Yes, if only FOX didn't have an exclusivity agreement with MLB, "NLCS" would be replaced with "Remainder of the Postseason"

On Friday, MLB.com said that to coincide with the debut of the Apple’s iPhone 4S, their popular At Bat 11 application for iPhone and iPod Touch would be just $0.99 for the remainder of the postseason.

It’s a great move, but for those that are thinking they’re going to get to watch the ALCS or the World Series, guess again.

Yes, you’re going to get postseason video streaming, but just for the remainder of the NLCS, which could end today with a Cardinals win, or tomorrow with Game 7.

Why, you ask? Blame FOX and MLB.

Baseball and FOX have an exclusivity agreement in which only FOX shows their games on national television when airing – the entire country is blacked out on all other platforms.

This isn’t to say there isn’t some goodness in getting At Bat 11 for $0.99, if you’ve never had it (get it here, on iTunes). You’ll still get radio feeds, Gameday, and other video highlights all the way through the conclusion of the World Series.

But, we’ll say it again: blackout rules, especially the national exclusivity deal between FOX and MLB is some of the worst “consumer relations in favor of blatant profits” you’re likely to ever find in all of consumerism. Just remember that when you buy At Bat, or MLB.TV, or MLB Extra Innings next season, and likely, for many seasons to come.

As smartphone technology moves from luxury convenience to commonplace, sports leagues are using social networking to engage, and track where fans are going. The advent of “check-ins” via Facebook and Foursquare is being integrated directly into mobile apps such as MLB.com’s At Bat.

So, the inforgraph above (click to see in full view) from sports social media tracker Kwarter (download the app here on iTunes), is a great look at the differing metrics across the leagues.

For example, MLB has the smallest follower base, but the highest number of check-ins, a sign that baseball has a high mobile base tapping into At Bat, Apple’s highest-grossing app on iTunes. Meanwhile, the NBA smashes all-comers in terms of followers. Top followed athlete? Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

Other info provided from Kwarter:

Stadiums and arenas rank as the second most checked in locations on Foursquare

AT&T Park in San Francisco is most checked in to venue on Foursquare and FB

81% of fans agree that sports viewing should be more interactive

The NBA’s 13.4M fans on FB and Twitter is more than the NFL, MLB, and NHL combined

68% of fans agree that they do not feel acknowledged or rewarded for their support

86% of mobile device users are using their device while watching television